Steps:

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2. Using the grid on graph paper draw the knot work to be carved on the horse head and finalize the design for carving. The rough dimensions are 6" x 12" for the horse head.

3. Cut out the paper template and tape it to 1/4-inch heavy plastic. Cut the plastic to the shape of the horse to create a plastic template.

4. Clean the plastic template on a drum sander.

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5. Drill mortise boundaries in the template for the placement of the straight wood strips (stretchers) that will be used for holding the bracelets.

6. Place the plastic template on 3/4 inch thick rock maple wood and trace around it. Flip the template over and trace it again on the wood.

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7. Cut out the two horse heads with a jigsaw. Wear safety glasses.

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8. Place double-stick lathe worker's tape between the plastic templates and the maple horse head cutout. Clamp in place. Use a router to complete the final shaping to the basic horse form following the template as a guide. Repeat with the second horse head.

9. Flip the wood horses to the back side, apply the template and mark the mortise boundaries with a pen. Remove the template and finish drawing the lines with a right angle ruler.

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10. Using a rubber hammer and chisels, make two 2" x 3/4"x 3/8" mortises (square hole) in the back of the wooden horse shapes to hold the stretchers.

11. Sand the horses with a random orbit sander using 180- and 220-grit.

12. Place a piece of carbon paper between the grid template and the wooden horse and trace the horse design to the wooden horse shapes. Repeat with the second horse.

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15. Using a router, cut a 1/2 inch round over on both sides of the back of each stretcher, leaving 3/8 inch on each end intact to fit the mortises.

16. Sand the stretchers.

17. Place a piece of carbon paper between the paper grid template for the stretcher design and the wood stretcher and trace the design onto the wood. Repeat with the second stretcher.

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18. Carve all the knot work designs on the two horses with wood-carving tools.

19. Carve the two stretchers.

20. With a straight gouge taper all interior knot work segments to a 45-degree angle. Clean up stray "fuzz" with the U-gouge.

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21. Where the knot work lines intersect, use a straight gouge to cut a 60-degree angle to enhance the "over/under" illusion of the knot work. Clean up stray fuzz with the U-gouge.

22. On the horse faces, simply etch the lines with a 5mm V-gouge to trace the eye and mouth. Taper around the ears and any remaining lines such as the border-sphere area on the cheek with a straight gouge.

23. Lightly sand all surfaces on all pieces with 320- and 400-grit sandpaper.

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24. Glue the stretchers into the mortises with waterproof wood glue. Protect the unglued surfaces with painter's tape. Clamp to dry for 12 hours.

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25. Unclamp and remove the tape, clean up stray glue with a flat chisel and lightly stain the wood with a lint-free cloth.

26. Apply the stain to the carved indentations with a cotton swab. Let dry for 12 hours.

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27. Brush on a clear coat finish and apply new coats at least eight hours between applications. Hand-sand very lightly with 400-grit between coats. Apply at least three coats if the piece is to travel often.

28. After the last coat has dried, very lightly clean the piece with 0000-steel wool to desired smoothness.

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29. Hang bracelets on the stretcher bars of the Celtic-carved bracelet holder.